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Keep going!

7K views 43 replies 8 participants last post by  EarthSnakeGemini 
#1 ·
Hi everyone!
I've started this journal - http://www.horseforum.com/member-journals/unfit-horse-unfit-rider-662033/ - to document my journey towards fitness. Feel free to join in!

Currently I am a little under my highest weight, sitting at about 250lbs :sad: It hurts to even look at that. I'm no longer riding my 15.3hh x bred mare as she keeps getting sore and tight in her back. My skinny little friend is keeping her going for me whilst I battle with myself.
Meanwhile, I'm riding my lovely new 16.3hh Clydesdale mare. She is just wonderful. A bit green but very willing and responsive.:loveshower:
She's been stolen by my 6ft5 brother whilst I'm on night shift. He suffers from cereal palsy so it's great to see him riding again. I just wanted to share some photos of him and her here and encourage all of you guys to post and get out and ride :runninghorse2:
First one of me on my little mare. The rest are of Martha and my brother :loveshower:
Horse Bridle Mammal Halter Rein

Horse Halter Vertebrate Bridle Mammal

Horse Trail riding Bridle Pack animal Rein

Grassland Highland Road Pasture Fell
 
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#4 ·
I really love how much he loves her. He has had a couple of really hard years and it's great to see him come through the other side of his teens stronger and happier. He intends to travel to the USA to do a farrier course at some point but reckons he'll charge me more to do my horses after lol no family rates for me!

I've just given Martha a good wash. She's been terrorised and bullied by my 3 year old filly so she's actually lost condition. I've separated them and hopefully Martha will gain some weight back. I hate herd politics lol
 
#5 ·
Really poor quality photos as it was getting late but Martha and I had a lovely ride across the farm this arvo. I'm loving getting to know her. She has a touch of aloofness about her and is a very proud little madam but so nice to ride. She also had a bath which could be why she didn't really want to know me lol
I'm more focused than ever to get my weight down.
I'll get better photos tomoz
 

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#6 ·
Martha is getting more smoochy. My brother is man handling her, he is big enough and strong enough to insist that he is allowed to hug her, pet her and fuss over her and she has to stand there and like it.
She is easier to catch and actually walks up to you for a scratch now. Fantastic progress! I'm getting her shod today and off for a ride after my night shift!
Next week some friends and I are off for a camp down the river so I want to make sure she is ok in the water before having other people around!
Meanwhile my brother is riding when he can and I really doubt I'll be getting her back grrr.
 
#8 ·
@equinebovine: you do not look 250 pounds. you look like a bright, healty, happy person, someone I'd like to know and hang out with. seriously.
I know you want to lose weight, and you feel bad about being as big as you are, but in general, you are one of those folks who looks lighter than they are, and has appeal, even being bigger than you'd like to be.

i had someone the other day, during one of my self-put downs, stop me and say, "you have a cute figure". I was stunned. I feel like a freakin' mushroom. but, no one is as harsh a critic as we are to ourselves.

keep on truckin'!
 
#9 ·
Thanks Tiny :D I really should add more photos to this thread. The other has some updated pics :)
Martha is doing really well and I am loving her. We had our first little gymkhana today, only walking and trotting as I'm not very balanced at cantering yet. We got 2nd in versatile mount, four 5ths (turn out, paced/mannered, bottle race and chocolate race) and three 6ths (barrel race, rider and something else but I can't remember what!) She behaved very very well and everyone loved her!
Once I get my canter seat sorted we will be away!
She is also self loading now which is a HUGE improvement on her little tantrums a week ago.
 
#11 ·
SO!
Martha was clipped for what I assume was a first time for her! She wasn't too keen on them around her head so her face stayed on. My friend (who clipped her) wanted to shave her completely...legs and all! But after much debate, the fluff stayed :)
Her top line is building up nicely and her coat is coming through beautifully. It was almost a shame to clip her but she sweats so badly she needed it. She is very black but a sort of brownish mussel. I'm thinking she isn't a black but more likely a blue roan? Who cares, she's epic.

The small, dodgy looking bay is my old reliable (who is younger and spookier but just as awesome as Martha). She's having fun helping another friend get into dressage whilst I loose weight jiggling about on Martha :)
 
#12 ·
I'm currently battling a cold :(

Martha is being riding almost daily by my brother. My little mare is up the farm with her so on my days off we go out hacking. The best news is that I've regained my confidence in cantering. Freya and I have been hooning around the farm. She is much easier to move than Martha! However, her canter is equal to Martha's trot stride....it's embarrassing,

Panacea, my 3.5 year old out of my little mare is back from training and I am currently riding her lightly. She's a stocky little thing and it has taken me a while to adjust to her trot, which is completely minuscule compared to Martha's!
I'm still having lessons on Tuesday so I will post updated photos of every one then :)
 
#19 ·
This horse has come such a long way!
She's fitter, happier and charging along. Unfourtently she does not see the need to canter as she is already faster than every one else thanks to her long legs :wink: But we'll get there!
 

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#20 ·
Oh what a hell of a month June was.
I lost two of my pets, had to help a friend through putting down her old horse, my fridge packed up, non stop night shifts, bills bills and more bills and just general rubbish.
I've not lost any weight thanks to the stress. In fact I think I've put it on.
BUT
I have a fun show on Sunday. I've just done 30 minutes on the treadmill and now that I have my fridge back I'll be able to stock up on fruit and vege and actually eat healthy.
Wish me luck!
 
#21 ·
Can't believe I didn't update!

We won a 1st, 3rd, three 4ths, a 5th, two 6ths and a recommended ribbon!! SO SO SO happy as it was my first EVER 1st ribbon!!! Martha was lovely, a bit slow and because the Judge had patted her in the line up Martha seemed to think that by aiming herself at the Judge she would be able to stop working!

Since then I had to bring down by small mare who got a bad case of the staggers. She is better now and I can finally focus back on Martha and my almost 4 yr old filly.

End of next month we have a baby ODE, a trotting dressage test and 40cm show jumping course. Can't wait! Hopefully Martha and I will look presentable by then! :)


PHOTOS TO COME!


How is every one else getting along?
 
#22 ·
So the weather sucks everyone is wet and muddy and yeah, no work today. Looking forward to tomoz!
I have no idea where their rugs have got to and the shed was taken up by the mini and grass mad mare. These two have been naked all winter so they'll be right :)
 

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#24 ·
Wow.
We've come so far!
She jumps! (At a trot.)
She canters! (Up hills!)
She lets me mount from ANYWHERE (Barbed wire fence? No problem.)
She rides out with others! (Leads the group out, brings up the rear on the way back.)
She can trot in a straight line! (Almost all the time!)
I'm LOVING this horse. She loves her job and is always a lady under saddle. Her mouth has developed and our turning has improved. She responds well to voice and is getting much better at leg yields.
Photos to come when I get home!
 
#25 ·
We have a hunt coming up in May. A really nice, low key event for ladies. Female Master, Hunts(wo)man, all female pack!
So here is our work out schedule for the month! I'll also be doing lots of leg strengthening exercises as I'm still fat.
THE MAIN THING IS WE'RE HAVING FUN!!

Mon
Tue
Wed
Thurs
Fri
Sat
Sun
May
01
· 20 mins walk
· 10 min trot
· 20 mins walk
02
Ride out

03 PM
· 20 mins walk
· 10 min trot
· 20 mins walk
04 PM
· 20 mins walk
· 10 min trot
· 20 mins walk
05 PM
· 20 mins walk
· 10 min trot
· 20 mins walk
06 PM
· 20 mins walk
· 10 min trot
· 20 mins walk
07 PM
Rest

08
· 10 mins walk
· 20 min trot
· 10 mins canter
· 20 mins walk
09
Ride out
10 PM
· 10 mins walk
· 20 min trot
· 10 mins canter
· 20 mins walk
11 PM
· 10 mins walk
· 20 min trot
· 10 mins canter
· 20 mins walk
12 PM
· 10 mins walk
· 20 min trot
· 10 mins canter
· 20 mins walk
13 PM
· 10 mins walk
· 20 min trot
· 10 mins canter
· 10 mins walk
14 PM
Rest

15
· 10 mins walk
· 20 min trot
· 10 min canter
· 20 mins walk
16
Ride out
17 PM
· 10 mins walk
· 20 min trot
· 10 min canter
· 20 mins walk
18 PM
· 10 mins walk
· 20 min trot
· 10 min canter
· 20 mins walk
19 PM
· 10 mins walk
· 20 min trot
· 10 min canter
· 20 mins walk
20 PM
· 10 mins walk
· 20 min trot
· 10 min canter
· 20 mins walk
21 PM
Rest

22
· 10 mins walk
· 20 min trot
· 10 min canter
· 20 mins walk
23
Ride out
24 AM
· 10 mins walk
· 20 min trot
· 10 min canter
· 20 mins walk
25 AM
Rest
26
· 20 mins walk
· 10 min trot
· 20 mins walk
27
Hunt
28 AM
Rest
 
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